Breast Augmentation
What is Breast Augmentation?
Performed by board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew Baker at our cosmetic surgery office in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, breast augmentation surgery uses Natrelle breast implants to enhance the shape and size of a woman’s breasts. Women choose to have breast augmentation surgery to enhance the contours of their body, to correct loss of breast volume following pregnancy, to make their breasts more symmetrical, among others.
With breast augmentation implants, a woman’s bust line can be increased by one or more cup sizes to enhance and lift her breasts. At H/K/B we perform breast augmentation surgery with silicone or saline Natrelle breast implants.
Gel Implants
Over the last 14 years, many studies have been conducted on silicone gel breast implants and the FDA has determined that silicone gel breast implants are safe and effective for use in breast augmentation and breast reconstruction. Now, women 22 and older can choose which type of implant they prefer.
Dr. Hensel is the FIRST certified surgeon in Charleston that can use Natrelle implants.
Breast Augmentation Surgery
At our cosmetic surgery practice in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, breast augmentation surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The breast augmentation surgeon will make the surgical incision along the crease on the underside of the breast or around the areola. The surgeon works through the incision, creating a pocket behind the breast tissue or under or above the chest muscle to accommodate the breast implant. Breast augmentation surgery will require 1-2 hours to complete. The incisions will be closed using stitches, though bandages, tape, and gauze may be applied for support and to assist with healing.
To learn more about our Charleston SC area cosmetic surgery office in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina or to speak with one of our breast augmentation surgeons, contact Lowcountry Plastic Surgery Center today.
After Breast Augmentation Surgery
At H/K/B, the breast augmentation surgeon and our staff will monitor your progress after surgery. You may feel tired and sore for a few days, but you should be mobile in just one day. Gauze and surgical dressing will be removed within a few days, at which time you may change to a soft cup bra/sports bra. Any sutures that do not dissolve on their own will be removed in 7-10 days. During the first two weeks, your nipples may experience a burning sensation. This will subside as post-surgical bruising begins to fade. Swelling after breast augmentation surgery may persist for 3-5 weeks with implants placed under the breast gland. In breast augmentation where the implants are placed under the muscle, swelling may persist significantly longer, approximately 3-5 months.
Recovery
Most patients return to work a few days after breast augmentation surgery, depending on the amount of activity their job requires. During the first 2-3 weeks, your breasts will be very sensitive to direct stimulation. If your breasts are no longer sore after 3-4 weeks, breast contact should be fine. No heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling with the upper body is recommended for at least two weeks after breast augmentation surgery. We discourage any activity that causes an increase in your heart rate or blood pressure for the first two weeks.
After breast implant surgery, the surgical scars will appear pink and firm for six weeks. The surgical scars may appear to widen or remain the same size for several months afterwards. They will eventually fade, though they will not disappear completely. If you experience any serious complications during your recovery period, you should contact our office at Lowcountry Plastic Surgery to speak with a breast augmentation surgeon.
Potential Risks
At our cosmetic surgery office in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina we perform breast augmentation surgery often, and usually achieve excellent results. Yet, as with other types of surgery, there are a number of potential risks.
One of the more common complications following breast augmentation surgery is called capsular contracture, which occurs when the capsule or scar around a breast implant tightens, causing a woman’s breast to feel abnormally hard. This condition is treatable. Other complications after breast augmentation surgery such as excessive bleeding or infection may require a second operation. Oversensitive, undersensitive, or numb nipples are other infrequent but possible complications you could experience.
There is a small chance that a breast implant will rupture. If a saline breast implant leaks or breaks, the implant will drain completely within a few hours and your body will absorb the salt water harmlessly. If a silicone gel-filled implant breaks, you may not detect the leak if the scar tissue around the breast implant remains intact. If the scar tissue does break or tear, however, the silicone gel may migrate into the surrounding tissue. If a saline or silicone implant breaks, you will require a second operation to replace the leaking implant. If your implant breaks, contact Lowcountry Plastic Surgeryto speak with a breast augmentation surgeon.
Some breast augmentation patients have experienced symptoms of arthritis-like conditions and immune system diseases. As of now, researchers have found no clear link between symptoms of connective-tissue disorders and silicone breast implants. The FDA is currently conducting further studies on the matter.
Though current evidence does not show a link between breast augmentation surgery and breast cancer, breast implants can alter the way a mammogram is performed in order to detect breast cancer. Trained radiologists will need to perform special displacement techniques as breast implants may obscure breast tissue on some views.
*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary*
To learn more about our Charleston SC area cosmetic surgery office in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina or to speak with one of our breast augmentation surgeons, contact H/K/B.
